Fellow Ugandans, I have come to inform the people of Uganda that my party has opted not to give me the party flag for Speaker of Parliament.
I have therefore decided to run as an independent.
The development comes hours after the ruling National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) Central Executive Committee (CEC) resolved to endorse Jacob Oulanya as Speaker of Parliament.
Kadaga earlier this week threatened to run as an Independent if she wasn’t chosen as the party flag-bearer.
Kadaga had expressed worries about CEC’s heavy involvement in determining the top positions in Parliament, saying the matter should be put to vote.
Kadaga said it was undemocratic for CEC to “sit five years early and say five years later so and so will be our Speaker.”
She also said they were not cattle to be selected exclusively by CEC members and questioned why a similar criterion is not applied while picking NRM’s flag bearer for President.
But party stalwarts including Ruth Nankabirwa reminded Kadaga that her rise to the position of Speaker was endorsed by CEC.
“Last time we convinced Jacob Oulanyah to step down and he gracefully stepped down,” said NRM MP Margaret Muhanga who also warned of serious consequences if Kadaga stood on the Independent ticket.
The NRM MPs caucus which is underway at State House Entebbe endorsed the decisions of CEC seconding Oulanya for the position of Speaker.
The elections for Speaker of 11th Parliament will be held at Kololo ceremonial grounds tomorrow, Monday.
The election will be presided over by Chief Justice Owiny Dollo.
Kadaga will now tussle it out with Oulanya, who has already received the support of the ruling party which has majority lawmakers in Parliament.
Kadaga’s defiance will be understood as a direct challenge to President Museveni’s authority.
She, however, said she would be fighting for the rights of the marginalized women.
